Park v Gateshead

Percy Park 31 - 8 Gateshead

Gateshead returned to Percy Park yesterday for the rearranged fixture and this time, after declining the opportunity to play the last one, it was 'Game On'. The pitch was in remarkable condition bearing in mind the amount of snow and rain in the last two weeks, and although Park had made a couple of changes to the pack, they were raring to go to make amends for the earlier defeat at Gateshead.

Gateshead kicked off and within five minutes took the lead with a penalty by flyhalf Selkirk. Park had been working on quicker ball in training and after a line out in the visitors half they moved the ball right, then from the resulting ruck spun the ball back left with Chris Reekie charging down the flank and off loading to Mike Baker who hugging the touchline beat the cover defence to score in the corner. Rutter missed the difficult conversion chance, but Park now led 5 -3.

Three minutes later Park were on the attack again, and a two on one opportunity should have given rise to a try, but the defender got a hand to the final pass, a deliberate knock on, and Rutter kicked the resulting penalty.

Gateshead's heavier pack kept possession well in the maul, but rather than keeping play tight, often opted to spin the ball, and each attack was repelled with some bone crunching mid field tackles. Shortly before the break Park scored another try, again resulting from a line out ball offloaded to the pacey backline. The visitors defended several phases, but ran out of defenders as Martin Shaw picked up from a ruck to go over the line for the score. At half time Park led 13 - 3.

In the first period, Park had kicked away some useful possession, and when the ball was kept in hand the backs gained ground at will. In the second half the home side used their back line to far greater effect and looked dangerous in every play.

Park had a scrum on half way eight minutes into the half, and a mix up between scum half and number eight allowed the Gateshead back row to steal the ball and launch an attack. Paul Lindsay made ground in the centre before a well timed pass set winger Findlay lose to score wide on the left wing. The conversion was off target but the gap narrowed to 13 - 8.

 

This galvanised Percy Park and soon after Rutter kicked a penalty for 16 - 8 and on the hour Park scored a well manoevred converted try. The ball was moved right by Rutter through the backs, and prop George Purdy popped up in the back line and ghosted through a gap in the defence and set up a ruck on the edge of the visitors 22. Greg Dixon picked up and powered towards the line unselfishly offloading to Marcus Rutter to score under the posts, and Park were now in command.

The home side should have gone further ahead when a fine back move resulted in Martin Shaw crossing the line to score, but he appeared to lose control of the ball in the process of scoring and the supporters cheers turned to groans as referee John Ash, who was up with play, disallowed the score.

Although Gateshead competed well in the tight, their line out was often disrupted and the backs had no answer for the resurgent Park three quarters, led by Marcus Rutter at fly half. Park's next score came from Craig Firth after Gateshead turned over possesion in the Park half. Joe Wafer pounced on a loose ball as the visitors were caught napping and the play was progressed up to the Gateshead 22. The ball was fed through the hands with Ash Smith coming into the line for Firth to score his first try of the game. Rutter missed the conversion, but made amends with a penalty shortly before the end to win 31 - 8.

This was a good day all round with a fine 1st XV performance to take another two league points, and the Lions won 65 - 0 against Blaydon III. Park Pumas also won a league double header away to Wallsend II 34 - 20.

 

And as for Shawsy's try, you make your own mind up.


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